The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Sramik Karmachari Oakya Parishad (SKOP) at a seminar in the capital yesterday called for halting the process of operation of the Labour Act (Amendment) Ordinance, 2008 terming it " anti-labour" and bringing about reform to certain sections of the ILO Convention.

They demanded reforms to sections 87 and 98 of the ILO Convention and amendment to 2006 labour laws on the basis of IRO 69.

Economist Prof Abul Barakat, also General Secretary of Bangladesh Economic Association, Former MP Shah Abu Zafar, Shah Alamgir, President of Dhaka Journalist Union, SKOP leader Dr Wazedul Islam Khan, Ramachhar Chandra, General Secretary of Jatiya Shramik League, among others, addressed the seminar. Abul Basar, President of Jatiya Shramik Federation, presided over the function.

Speakers said all the labour laws enacted in the past were aimed at serving the interest of the corporate capital ignoring the rights of the workers.

They pointed out that the government was yet to withdraw the ban on the activities of the labour bodies. They also criticised the " highhandedness" of the owners of industries and factories in their dealings with workers.

They were critical of the government for constituting the Tripartite Counselling Committee (TCC) excluding the representatives of the mainstream national labour bodies. It was the violation of section 144 of ILO Convention, they maintained.

Prof Abul Barakat said many small and medium industries have been closed down in recent times for various factors. These industrial units provided employment to a large number of people, he added. He urged the labour to realise their rights through movement. The country needs home-grown philosophy and policy for its progress, he opined.

Speakers urged the owners of industries not to look at the workers as their enemy.